7 TikTok Shop Scams and How To Avoid Them

Updated on July 8, 2025.

TikTok Shop is a part of TikTok that lets you buy products directly from videos, online storefronts and livestreams. TikTok Shop launched in the U.S. in September 2023, and it gained traction quickly – Forbes reported that about 5% of all American consumers purchased a gift from TikTok Shop during the 2023 holiday season. As TikTok Shop grows in popularity, so does the number of scams targeting online shoppers. TikTok Shop scams like fake sellers, counterfeit products and phishing scams can cost you your money and your online privacy.

Continue reading to learn seven of the most common TikTok Shop scams, how to spot them and what you can do to protect yourself while shopping.

1. Counterfeit and low-quality products

One of the most common scams on TikTok Shop involves fake sellers listing high-demand items at suspiciously low prices. After you make a purchase, you may receive a knockoff, a damaged item or nothing at all. Watch out for listings with vague product descriptions, no reviews or unusually low prices.

💡Tip: To stay safe, buy only from sellers with official TikTok verification badges and positive reputations.

2. Phishing messages from fake TikTok sellers or representatives

A scammer may message you directly, pretending to be a TikTok Shop seller or a TikTok representative. These phishing messages may include links asking for your payment details or claiming to require your personal information. If a seller’s message contains urgent or threatening language and pressures you to act quickly, you are likely communicating with a scammer who intends to steal your information or money.

💡Tip: Don’t let the pressure of urgent language convince you to share your personal information or send money to someone on TikTok.

3. Impersonated brand or celebrity accounts

Scammers create fake TikTok accounts that impersonate real brands or popular influencers. These impostors may use similar usernames, profile photos and even reposted content to appear legitimate and trick you into purchasing products from them. If you search for a trending product and find what seems to be a trustworthy account, you may be tricked into buying an item from a fake profile.

💡Tip: Ensure the account has a blue verification badge and proper spelling before purchasing anything.

4. Fake TikTok follower generators

If you’re trying to gain followers on TikTok, it may be tempting to engage with accounts that promise faster follower growth or free engagement. However, any account that guarantees more followers will often share a malicious link that steals your TikTok login credentials.

💡Tip: Avoid using follower generator sites, and never enter your login credentials outside the official app or on any service that asks for your password.

5. Get-rich-quick schemes

Scammers may claim that a celebrity is giving away money for easy tasks, like following another account or liking a video. The only catch is that you’ll need to give them a small amount of money that the scammer promises to turn into a large payout. Scams like this are designed to steal your money – once you send it, you won’t get it back.

💡Tip: If any scheme requires you to invest money upfront or is time-sensitive, it’s a scam.

6. Fake apps and mobile games promoted through TikTok

Some TikTok accounts promote sponsored content, like mobile games and other apps. Scammers use fake TikTok accounts to promote scam apps, tricking you into downloading fake apps or mobile games that resemble popular ones, like Roblox. They hope to steal your information and install spyware on your device to monitor your online activity.

💡Tip: Always download apps directly from official app stores, and be cautious of promotions from unverified TikTok accounts.

7. Fake TikTok verification offers

Scammers may message you directly, offering TikTok verification for a small fee. They want you to fill out a form with your personal information, including payment details, in hopes of selling you a verification badge at a low cost. However, these messages are always fake because TikTok does not sell verification badges through third parties.

💡Tip: Since only TikTok can verify your account, never pay anyone for a verification badge and report any accounts that offer them.

How to avoid falling for scams on TikTok Shop

Although TikTok Shop can be a fun way to discover new products, it’s important to be cautious while shopping online to avoid scams and protect your personal information. Here are tips to help you shop safely on TikTok Shop:

Check seller reviews, ratings and verification

Before buying anything on TikTok Shop, always vet the seller. Look for a verified badge on their profile, showing TikTok has confirmed their identity. In addition, scroll through the seller’s profile to ensure they have positive reviews from other buyers and that their product descriptions are grammatically correct. It’s best to avoid sellers with limited feedback, unreasonably low prices or incomplete profiles.

Use secure payment methods

Always complete transactions through TikTok Shop’s built-in payment system. If a seller asks you to pay them through Venmo, Cash App or any other external app, it’s likely a scam. For extra protection, use a credit card instead of a debit card when purchasing anything from TikTok Shop. Credit cards provide better protection against fraud, ensuring you won’t lose the money saved in your bank account if you get scammed.

Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true

Like Temu and other online marketplaces, TikTok Shop often offers products at very low prices. However, you should be cautious of listings that appear too good to be true. For example, if you are shopping for a new gaming system on TikTok Shop and see it priced at $20, you should be skeptical of the price and avoid falling for the scammer’s fake listing.

Avoid sharing sensitive information with sellers

Legitimate sellers will never ask for your personal information outside TikTok Shop’s secure checkout. If a seller on TikTok Shop claims they can’t send your item without specific sensitive information, such as your payment information, stop communicating with them immediately. Sharing sensitive information with a seller on TikTok Shop jeopardizes your privacy and online safety, as they could use that information to target you with more scams or, in extreme cases, commit identity theft.

Never click unsolicited links

If a seller sends you a link through TikTok’s direct messages, don’t click it, especially if it looks suspicious or uses urgent language. Unsolicited links can lead to a variety of negative consequences, including your private information being stolen or malware being installed on your device. If you receive a message from a seller on TikTok Shop containing a link they ask you to click, avoid clicking on it because you may get hacked. To verify a link’s safety, use a URL checker, like Google Transparency Report, before opening it.

Secure your TikTok account

Protect your TikTok account from unauthorized access by using a strong password (at least 16 characters and a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols), enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) methods and setting up a phishing-resistant passkey.

To enable 2FA on your TikTok account, follow these steps:

1. Tap your profile at the bottom right of your home screen.
2. Select the menu icon on the top right corner of your screen, then tap Settings and privacy from the dropdown.
3. Once in the Settings and privacy screen, tap Security & permissions within the Account section.
4. Tap 2-step verification, then select at least two methods to turn on 2FA.
5. Enable SMS and email options for 2FA by tapping Turn on.

To set up a passkey on your TikTok account, go to your profile, select the menu icon, then tap Settings and privacy. Tap Account, then tap Passkey. From there, you will follow the instructions on your screen and create a passkey. Once you confirm your passkey, you’ll use that passkey to verify your identity each time you log in.

Report suspicious sellers

If you suspect you are talking to a fraudulent seller or realize you’ve been scammed, report the seller’s account to TikTok. To do so, visit the seller’s profile, tap the Share button at the top, then select Report. Choose the reason for reporting the seller’s account, tap Submit and TikTok will receive your report. Reporting suspicious sellers on TikTok Shop helps protect others from getting scammed and reduces the presence of scammers on the platform.

Protect yourself from scammers on TikTok Shop

Staying safe while shopping on TikTok Shop starts with smart cybersecurity hygiene. Always review sellers’ ratings, use secure payment methods, avoid sharing sensitive information and never click on unsolicited links. Many scams on TikTok Shop are designed to steal your private information or money, so be cautious and do your research before making a purchase.

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Frequently asked questions